Electric meter lock ring

ABSTRACT

An electric meter lock ring having an arcuate band provided with a pair of opposed ends arranged forming a split ring. A locking arrangement associated with the opposed band ends has a locking member, actuated by a cammed-ball key member, mounted on one end of the band and arranged for selectively engaging a locking member disposed on the other band end and locking the pair of opposed band ends together.

United States Patent Heckrotte, Sr. et al.

[ Jan. 21, 1975 1 ELECTRIC METER LOCK RING 2,434,878 1/1948 Williams r. 285/l29 2,490,640 12/1949 Lefevre-Selmer [76] l f" 1625 3,172,282 3/1965 Heckrotte .0 711/171; g g f 26: ig5ol5; 3,259,414 7/1966 Rothert 292/25667 ames arcaccl, H'hl d,Ph ',A'. 1 1g an oemx 850 8 Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Cra1g, Jr. Fllfidi J y 5, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; 21 Appl. No.: 382,447 Harvey Jacobson [52] U.S. Cl 70/164, 24/280, 70/229,

215/275,220/55 AN,285/410,292/256.67, [57] ABSTRACT 403/338 [5]] 1m Cl G01, 11/04 F16! 21/06 An electr1c meter lock rmg havmg an arcuate band [58] Fieid 24/280. 7O/18 19 164 provided with a pair of opposed ends arranged form- 7O/166 220755 ing a split ring. A locking arrangement associated with 80 4 i 292/25667 the opposed band ends has a locking member, actuated by a cammed-ball key member, mounted on one end of the band and arranged for selectively engaging [56] References Cited a locking member disposed on the other band end and locking the pair of opposed band ends together. UNITED STATES PATENTS 934,760 9/1909 Roy et al. 339/82 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC METER LOCK RING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a lock ring, and particularly to a key-operated electric meter lock ring.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has long been sought to produce an electric meter lock ring that is essentially tamper-free. Such lock rings are desirable for reasons of security and safety, since tampering of an electric meter by untrained personnel could not only result in a loss of revenue to a supplier of electric power, but electrocution of the person or persons as well.

Electric meter lock rings are known that are locked by a threaded member mounted on an end of a split ring and arranged for selectively engaging a threaded bore mounted on the other end of the ring. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,231,737, issued Feb. 11, 1941, to A. R. Rutter. The securing of such lock mechanisms, however, is usually achieved by using a standard sealing device, and the like. These seals have the disadvantage that while one may determine if the seal has been removed, it is a relatively simple matter for unauthorized persons to remove the seal and tamper with the meter without being detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It isan object of the present invention to provide an electric meter lock ring having a simple, reliable, and secure locking arrangement.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electric meter lock ring which is actuated by a specially constructed key member.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing an electric meter lock ring having: an arcuate band provided with a pair of opposed ends arranged forming a split ring; and a key-operated locking arrangement disposed at the opposed ends for selectively locking same together A preferred embodiment of a locking arrangement according to the present invention has a locking member arranged on one of the opposed ends of the split ring, and a locking element arranged on the other of the opposed ends for selectively engaging the locking member and locking together the opposed ends to secure the locking ring.

Advantageously, the locking element is provided with an enlarged head having a cavity and an aperture in the enlarged head communicating with the cavity for receiving a key element having a cammed-ball captively held in a sleeve of the key member and arranged to enter the aperture of the enlarged head by a movement of a plunger arranged within the sleeve in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the plunger to force the ball into the aperture and rotatably connect the key member or element to the locking element.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective viewshowing an electric meter lock ring according to the present inven tion.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, an electric meter lock ring according to the present invention is shown connecting together portions 12 and 14 of a conventional electric meter housing. Portions 12 and 14 may be, for example, the usual standard base and glass cover of the conventional electric meters in common usage around the United States. Lock ring 10 is formed by an arcuate band 16 having a pair of opposed ends 18 and 20 arranged forming a split ring. Bank 16 is provided with a pair of parallel, codirectionally extending flanges 22 arranged extending along the edges of band 16 between the ends 18 and 20. A locking arrangement 24 is arranged at ends 18 and 20 for locking same together about, for example, electric meter housing portions 12 and 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, locking arrangement 24 includes a first housing 26 mounted on end 18 as by a conventional sheet metal screw 28, and the like. An opening 30 is provided in one wall of housing 26 for a purpose to be set out below. A locking member in the form of a nut 32 is arranged on end 18 and within housing 26, and is provided with a threaded bore 34 arrangeable in screw-threaded mating engagement with a locking member to be described below. Nut 32 may be either affixed on end 18 as by being attached in a suitable, known manner, to the flange portion 35 thereof or may be movably mounted within housing 26 so as to float with respect thereto. Advantageously, a guide (not shown) is provided for limiting the movement of nut 32 when movably mounted in housing 26. For example, flange 35 of end 18 of band 16 could be arranged spaced from the wall of housing 26 in which is provided opening 30 so that nut 32 is arranged between that wall and flange 35.

Locking arrangement 24 further includes a locking element 36 having a threaded shank portion 38 and an enlarged head 40 provided with a cavity 42 and an aperture 44 communicating with cavity 42. This locking element 36 is arranged in a second housing 46 attached to end 20 as by a conventional screw 48 in a manner similar to the attachment of housing 26 by screw 28. As can be readily appreciated from FIG. 2, housing 46 forms a chamber in which locking element 36 is arranged. A key element 50, similar to the key element set out in more detail in my US. Pat. No. 3,172,282, issued Mar. 9, 1965, is provided for actuating locking element 36, which is arranged with its threaded shank portion 38 extending out of housing 46 through an opening 52 provided therein so as to pass selectively through opening 30 and into engagement with bore 34 of nut 32. A bushing 54 is arranged in an opening provided in a wall of housing 46 arranged opposed to the wall in which is provided opening 52. The bore of this bushing 54 permits a sleeve 56 of key element to pass into the chamber of housing 46 and, simultaneously, into cavity 42. This sleeve 56 is dimensioned to fit closely in cavity 42, and is provided with a hole in which is captively held a ball 58 arranged and dimensioned to enter aperture 44 by movement of a longitudinal plunger 60 parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. This plunger 60 defines a camming surface 62 which cams ball 58 into aperture 44 when sleeve 56 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 2, in cavity 42 for rotatably connecting key element 50 to locking element 36. This is achieved by threaded shank portion 38 mating with nut 32 so as to threadedly engage bore 34 when the associated band opposed ends 18 and 20 are locked together, whereby shank portion 38 may enter bore 34 and lock together these ends 18 and 20. In operation, sleeve 56 of key element 50 is inserted through the bore in bushing 54, that may be retained in its associated opening in housing 46 as by splines and the like, and into cavity 42. Plunger 58 is now moved parallel to its longitudinal axis in the direction to insert it further into cavity 42. This movement will move ball 60 into aperture 44 and cause key element 50 and locking element 36 to be rotatably connected together. Rotation of sleeve 56 in the appropriate direction, dependent upon the direction of the screw threads, will cause threaded shank portion 38 to mate with nut 32 and cause ends 18 and 20 to be locked together. Reverse rotation of sleeve 56 will unthread shank portion 38 and nut 32 and unlock ends 18 and 20. Key element 50 may be withdrawn from housing 46 by moving plunger 60 along its longitudinal axis in the direction away from housing 46 and cavity 42 so as to permit ball 58 to move within sleeve 56 and release same from enlarged head 40 of locking element 36. once key element 56 is removed from housing 46, it will be readily appreciated from the above description and from the drawings that locking arrangement 24, if it has been left in the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings wherein housings 26 and 46 and their associated ends 18 and 20 are locked together, is virtually tamper-free since the relatively small, semi-hemispherical construction of aperture 44 would make it very difficult to project a, for example, piece of wire, and the like, into cavity 42 and aperture 44 to effect a rotation of locking element 36 to disengage the shank portion 38 of same from nut 32 and unlock ring 10. At the same time, a person equipped with a key element 50 may quickly, easily, and conveniently disengage and engage shank portion 38 with nut 32 as desired. Thus, a lock ring according to the present invention provides a simple, reliable, convenient, and secure locking arrangement.

Further, locking arrangement 24 according to the present invention provides a pair of housings 26 and 46 which are selectively held together by a rotatable locking device completely enclosed within the two aligned recesses or chambers in housings 26 and 46, and which is made and broken by key element 50. It is to be understood, of course, that band 16 locks portions 12 and 14 of an electric meter housing in position adjacent one another by being tightened around these portions 12 and 14 when threaded shank portion 38 is threaded into bore 34 of nut 32.

A seal hole 64 may be provided in the front portion of housing 46 and arranged passing through the bushing 54 for receiving a suitable retaining element and protecting bushing 54 against unauthorized removal. A, for example, pin 66 may be used as the retaining element, and sealed in hole 64 in a conventional manner.

Alternatively to a one piece ring 16, a ring (not shown) may be used that has two pieces hinged in a conventional manner at, for example, a point degrees from the center oflocking arrangement 24. A, for example, conventional leaf and pin hinge (not shown) may be employed for this purpose The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further. since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An electric meter lock ring, comprising, in combination:

a. an arcuate band having a pair of opposed ends arranged forming a split ring, the arcuate band being provided with parallel, codirectionally extending flanges arranged extending along the hand between the opposed ends; and

b. means arranged at the opposed ends for locking same together, the means for locking including a locking member arranged on one of the opposed ends and means arranged on the other of the opposed ends for selectively engaging the locking member and locking together the opposed ends, the means for engaging including a locking element and an associated key element, a threaded shank portion on said locking element, the locking element having an enlarged head provided with a cavity and an aperture in the enlarged head communicating with the cavity; the key element including a sleeve dimensioned to fit closely in the cavity, and being provided with a ball captively held in the sleeve and arranged to enter the aperture by movement of a longitudinal plunger slidably arranged within the sleeve in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, the plunger defining a camming surface arranged for camming the ball into the aperture and rotatably connecting the key element to the locking element when the sleeve is arranged in the cavity, and a bore provided in the locking member and arranged to mate with the shank portion when the arcuate band opposed ends are locked together, whereby the shank portion may enter the bore and lock together the arcuate band opposed ends, the means for locking further including a first housing mounted on a one end of the opposed ends, and a second housing mounted on the other end of the opposed ends, the locking member being arranged within the first housing and the means for engaging being arranged within the second housing, a bushing arranged in an opening provided in a wall of the second housing spaced farthest from the one end, the bushing provided with a bore arranged for receiving the key element sleeve, and seal means for protecting the bushing against unauthorized removal.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking member is a nut affixed on the one of the opposed ends.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking member is a nut movably mounted on one of the first and second housings. 

1. An electric meter lock ring, comprising, in combination: a. an arcuate band having a pair of opposed ends arranged forming a split ring, the arcuate band being provided with parallel, codirectionally extending flanges arranged extending along the band between the opposed ends; and b. means arranged at the opposed ends for locking same together, the means for locking including a locking member arranged on one of the opposed ends and means arranged on the other of the opposed ends for selectively engaging the locking member and locking together the opposed ends, the means for engaging including a locking element and an associated key element, a threaded shank portion on said locking element, the locking element having an enlarged head provided with a cavity and an aperture in the enlarged head communicating with the cavity; the key element including a sleeve dimensioned to fit closely in the cavity, and being provided with a ball captively held in the sleeve and arranged to enter the aperture by movement of a longitudinal plunger slidably arranged within the sleeve in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, the plunger defining a camming surface arranged for camming the ball into the aperture and rotatably connecting the key element to the locking element when the sleeve is arranged in the cavity, and a bore provided in the locking member and arranged to mate with the shank portion when the arcuate band opposed ends are locked together, whereby the shank portion may enter the bore and lock together the arcuate band opposed ends, the means for locking further including a first housing mounted on a one end of the opposed ends, and a second housing mounted on the other end of the opposed ends, the locking member being arranged within the first housing and the means for engaging being arranged within the second housing, a bushing arranged in an opening provided in a wall of the second housing spaced farthest from the one end, the bushing provided with a bore arranged for receiving the key element sleeve, and seal means for protecting the bushing against unauthorized removal.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking member is a nut affixed on the one of the opposed ends.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking member is a nut movably mounted on one of the first and second housings. 